Au Bon Climat Chardonnay Nuits Blanches Au Bouge 2019

Description

Au Bon Climat has been making balanced, food friendly Chardonnays since 1982. Even in the early 2000s when ripe, oaky Chardonnays were all the rage, Au Bon Climat stuck to a more subtle and refined style, with minerality and intensity. 

The very small crop at Le Bon Climat ripened quickly with sunshine, while the more vigorous, K block at Bien Nacido took one month longer than Le Bon Climat to ripen. Le Bon Climat is planted with Dijon Clones 76 and 96 which have riper characteristics at lower sugar than the Davis clones of Chardonnay. Block “K” at Bien Nacido is one of the original blocks planted at Bien Nacido in the early 1970s. “K” Block is all UC Davis clone 4. Usually as grapes ripen, the sugar level will increase while the acid will decrease. The cooler the climate, the slower this process will happen. This clone in the cool Santa Maria Valley will be low in pH at a ripe sugar level. A low pH Chardonnay will age better, integrate oak better, and pair with food better.

The 2019 Chardonnay Nuits-Blanches au Bouge is a classic Au Bon Climat wine. Deep and layered, yet also light on its feet, the 2019 is super-complex right out of the gate. Lemon confit, tangerine oil, spice and lots of new French oak all build in a captivating Chardonnay that delivers the goods. 94pts, Antonio Galloni, Vinous.